The hard-tackling Magpies still kicked four goals to one in a ferocious third quarter to turn what had been a two-point lead after a tight, see-sawing first half into a 21-point advantage at the last change.

The game turned spiteful when North's Lindsay Thomas, who kicked four first-half goals, bumped Reid off the ball.

Reid lay motionless for several minutes before leaving the ground after the pair's head clash, which might cost Thomas a suspension.

While a goal to North's Lachie Hansen pulled the margin back to 21 points by three-quarter, time, majors to Cloke and Sidebottom early in the last pushed it out to 34 points.

North kicked the next four goals to give the tiring Magpies a scare, before Brent Macaffer sealed the game inside the last minute.

Port Adelaide earned its first four competition points of 2013 in crushing fashion as it blew away Melbourne by 13 goals at the MCG on Sunday afternoon.

The Power walked away from new head coach Ken Hinkley's first senior footy game in charge with the win and a mountain of confidence after kicking 11 goals across the second and third terms to bury the Demons 19.19 (133) to 8.6 (54).

There could not have been a bigger contrast in the two sides' body language in the final quarter as the Dees all but surrendered while Port continued to attack and play hard for it.

In the end 22,924 fans at the 'G went home disappointed as the Demons' campaign got underway in the ugliest of fashion, and the hosts left the field to raucous booing.

Jay Schulz kicked four for Port Adelaide and took an early mark of the year candidate for a huge hanger on the goal-line over two team-mates and two opponents.

He also had 20 touches, five other marks and laid three tackles in an excellent all-around performance. Angus Monfries and Paul Stewart each bagged hat-tricks for the Power.

The Demons only trailed by 14 at the first change but the deficit was 29 by half-time and losing the "premiership quarter" 5.6-0.1 sealed their fate.

Rookie Melbourne midfielder Jack Viney was the standout for the home side with 22 touches, four marks and a goal.